Door check and closer.



M. J. FLYNN.

DOOR OHEOK AND CLOSER. APrLIoATIoN FILED umso, 1910.

1,020,033. Patented Mar. 12, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

CQLUMBIA PLANoanAPM co..w^smNoTDN, D. c.

M. J. FLYNN.

DOOR CHBOK AND CLOSER.

APPLIOATION FILED Ammo, 1910.

Patented Mar. 12, 1912.

2 SHEBTB--BHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOURAPM CO.. WASHINGTON, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL J'. FLYNN, 0F NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOEDWARD W. MOCARTY, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 12, 1912.

Application filed April 30, 1910. Serial No. 558,627.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL J. FLYNN, a citizen of the United States,residing at New Brunswick, in the county of Middlesex and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door Checksand Closers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to a door closing and checking apparatus; thearrangement of parts shown in the particular embodiments of my inventionillustrated in the accompanying drawings being more particularly adaptedfor use with fluid pressure means; the door being allowed to close atcertain predetermined rates in different parts of its path of travel,and the flow of fluid from one compartment to another being accuratelycontrolled to effect this desirable result. Devices of this characterare frequently applied to the outside surfaces of doors, where they areobjectionably conspicuous and unsightly; whereas devices made inaccordance with my invention are adapted to be positioned directlywithin the door jamb and the door proper, so as t0 act upon the insideedge of the door; the door check hence being located substantiallyentirely out of sight.

The mechanism herein described is simple, convenient and easilyadjusted; it is furthermore inexpensive of manufacture, and overcomesvarious objectionable features that are usually present in devices ofthis character. The use of a flexible conneetion between the operativeparts is of course old; but I have found in practice that this flexibleelement7 one end of which is secured to the edge of the door and theother to the checking means and which passes over small rollers carriedby the casing which is disposed within the jamb of the door, has atendency to permanently kink or buckle; probably due in part to thebending of the element sharply around the said rollers so that when thedoor is being closed, by the action of the return or closing spring, theoverall length of the said flexible member is in effect shortened and asa result of this the door is prematurely closed so that the check hasnot time to properly act and the door slams.

The present invention embodies several features which together act toobviate this difficulty, although in many instances the provision of oneor the other of these features is sufficient.

My present invention also affords means for readily adjusting the sizeof the orifice through which fluid passes from one compartment to theother of the checking device, when the door is returning to its closedposition. This adjustment renders it possible to predetermine theclosing speed of the door to a nicety.

My invention also contemplates the provision of a novel form of packingdevice whereby waste of the fluid contained in the checking apparatus issubstantially entirely obviated.

I have also devised means for materially shortening the overall lengthof the checking appliance which is intended to be disposed in the j ambof the door and this last mentioned feature also in great measureovercomes the buckling tendency of the flexible element above referredto by reason of the fact that the portion of such fiexible element whichis disposable within the jamb casing when the door is closed is reducedto a minimum.

Various other novel features of my invention will be hereinafterpresented and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings which form a part hereof and in which likereference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:Figure 1 is a vertical section taken through a portion of a door andjamb and axially through my device which is shown as positioned therein.Fig. 2 is a horizontal axial section of a modified form of my device.Fig. 3 is .a fragmentary section taken at right angles to the sectionshown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail of a modification ofthev kink preventing means. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the packingring and spring therefor; and Fig. 6 is a section of the flexibleelement connecting device taken at right angles to the section of suchdevice shown in Fig. 2.

Referring now to Fig. l, the casing which is adapted to be inserted intothe jamb has been broadly designated l, this casing comprising a sectionof cylindrical tubing 2 into the innermost extremity of which is screweda flat disk or plug 3, while the outer extremity of the casing is closedby a frame tending therearound.

which has pivotally mounted thereupon two small rollers 5 which run inan elongated slot or groove which extends through the center of theframe. Each of the rollers is supported by a pin 6 which is drivenlaterally through a lug or projection upon the.

side of the frame, thislug being preferably circular and of the samediameter as that of the interior of the tube 2, but flattened as at 7upon opposite sides thereof. This flattening of the lug is merelyT tofacilitate drilling the holes for the reception of the pins 6. The framehas also a hole 8 drilled therethrough parallel to the axis thereof, andthe orifice of this aperture should preferably be positioned von a lineextending substantially at right angles to the slot above referredto. Afairly strong spring 9 is disposed in the casing and this spring bearsat its outermost extremity upon the inner face of the frame 4 and at itsother end upon a flange of a collar or washer 10. It is desirable toslot one side of the tube 2 as shown at 11 for therece-ption'of a pin 12or the like whichextends 'out from the side of the flange 13 so that the-'ber 14 which is preferably secured thereto by threading, and the outerend of this tube is in turn closed by a threaded plug 15. The washer 10is apertured at the center thereof for the reception of a smoothcylindrical Ystem 16 which' neatly lits the aperture in, the

collar 10 and for the present may be regarded asv secured to the plug 3.The rod or stem 16 has disposed therearound a suitable packing ring 17which has a flange 18 ex- Outside of the packing ring proper, which ringmay be formed of'any suitable material such as leather or Y'compcsition,is an annular spring 19; this spring being obliquely split as shown inFig. 5, so that it normally tends to close in the packing snugly aroundthe stem. The object of this construct-ion is to maintain the packing inclose contact with the surface of the stem so thateven if the device hasbeen in use for some time a tight closure is assured and lno leakage ofthe fluid hereinafter referred to can occur. The packing is maintainedin position by means of a gland 20' which has a threaded engagement withan" extension or boss on the side of the collar 10.

The interior of the inner casing formed by the tube 14, the collar 10and plug 15 above referred to, is preferably filled with fluidor'liquid. I prefer to use glycerin for this purpose but other suitablefluid or liquid may be substituted therefor. The outer end of the stem16 carries a valve 21 which is adapted to sit in a recess formed uponone side of a preferably slidably mounted valve ringv or partition 22.This ring neatly fits the tube 14 but is movable thereinv and may beforced away from its engagement with engagement with the side of thering 22.'

The ring .i2 hence is adapted for movement back and forth between thevalve proper and the said pins, and this ring has an aperture 26 thereinto one side of the valve, the walls of which are adapted to neatlyengage a tube 27. This tube is shown in Fig. 1 as being of reduceddiameter for the greater portion thereof vand the larger. portion isthreaded at` 28 for neat engagement with a threaded aperture in the plug15. A narrow slit 29 is preferably longitudinally disposed through aportion of the, threaded part of this tube and the outer end 30 of thetube is plugged so that fluid which entersat the open end 31 of the saidtube may only escape through the slit 29. The plugged end is preferablyslotted for engagement with a screw driver. so that the tube may bescrewed into or out of the casing, and the extent of the slit 29 exposedwill determine the size of the orifice through which fluid is Y adaptedto pass when the. door is closing; said fluid passing therethrough from.the compartment in which ,is positioned the abut-ment 24, the fluidcontaining casing being normally urged toward the bottom of the outercasing by the action of the spring 9, andthe fluid escaping from theend31 of the tube and gradually. filling the chamber or compartment inwhich is positioned the gland 20.

Plug 15 has secured in the center thereof a flexible and somewhatresilient element 32 which in this instance is composed of a cableformed of steel wire or hemp, and which cable is wound over the entirelength thereof with fine piano wire. This winding of resilient wireserves to make the element more elastic or resilient, and furthermoreserves to protect the strands from wear. The said element is preferablynon-extensible, or in other words substantially incapable of elongation,and it is obvious that a pull thereupon will compress the spring 9 andcause the glycerin or other fluid in t-he fluid receptacle to passrapidly from one compartment thereof to the other, the fluid pressureforcing the ring 22 back from its seat against the valve. The flexibleelement passes out of the outer casing between the rollers 5 and asshown in Fig. 1 preferably, although not necessarily, passes into asecond casing which has been broadly designated 33. This casing is muchshorter and may be smaller in diameter than the casing 1, and is adaptedto be positioned directly in the edge of the door, being of coursepreferably disposed in axial alinement with the casing 1. Casing 33 isclosed by a frame 34 which is similar in general construction to theframe 4, except that this cap has no aperture 8 extending therethrough.Frame 34, however, carries rollers 35 between which passes the flexibleelement, said element having secured to the end thereof a disk or washer36; this disk being normally adapted to seat itself against the bottomof the casing 33; being held thereagainst by a spring 37 whichpreferably should be of somewhat greater strength than spring 9 when thesaid springs are normally expanded. As shown in Fig. 1 spring 37 is ofsomewhat smaller diameter than the spring 9 and hence may be made oflighter material.

I have found that there is a tendency; especially when the flexiblemember is of considerable length, for said element to kink or buckle.This is possibly due in part to the fact that when the door is opened toits fullest extent, the said element being bent sharply around therespective rollers 5 tends to remain slightly bent, and as a result ofthis when t-he spring 9 draws the element back into the casing, thedoor, which is normally supposed to rapidly close to within apredetermined distance of its latching position and to thereafter closeslowly for a predetermined distance almost to its latching position andthen to rapidly shut in order to properly secure the latch, will beurged to close by the'spring 9 before the checking device has a chanceto properly operate due to the kinking or shortening of the flexibleelement. To overcome this difficulty therefore I may provide sections oftubing which are adapted to telescope over each other and through whichpasses the flexible element 32. These tubular sections have been shownrespectively at 38 and 39, the section 38 being secured in any suitablemanner to the plug 15 and the section 39 in corresponding fashion beingsecured in the cap 4. If these tubes are used I prefer to slot thesection 39 upon opposite sides thereof to permit of the rollers 5 beinginserted tlirough said slots for engagement with the flexible element.Fig. 1 shows these sections as being relatively short, but they may bemade as long as desired so that a greater or less extent of the flexibleelement may be inclosed thereby when in its withdrawn position. I findin practice that it is not absolutely necessary that they should soinclose the entire extent of such element, as the element is fairlystiff and a short span thereof may be unsupported without its kinking.The gist of this portion of my invention resides in the provision ofproper support for the section of the flexible element which is liableto buckle, whereby means are provided for substantially obviating thekinking or buckling action in question. Other forms of the device willbe hereinafter referred to. The provision of the casing 33 with itsindependent spring also coperates to this end, in that as a result ofthis construction the length of the flexible element between the rollers5 and the plug 15 is thereby materially reduced, and the tendency tokink is `more or less proportional to the length of such portion.

I have also shown a means for permitting of a still greater movement ofthe door which may be used if desired. It will be observed that theinner end of the stem 16 is tubular; the extremity of the tube beingclosed by a plug 40 which is threaded thereinto and which plug isapertured cent-rally thereof for neat engagement with a stem or stud 41.This stud is preferably riveted to the plug 3, having a reducedextremity which extends thereinto and the end of which is riveted tofirmly retain the stud in place. The said stud has a head 42 formedthereupon against which bears one end of a relatively stift" spring 43.This spring surrounds the stud 41 and bears against the plug 40 so thatnormally the stem 16 is held firmly down against the disk 3. Vhen,however, the door is opened beyond the amount which can be accommodatedby the spring 37 and the travel of the gland through the fluid chamber,which travel is limited by the engagement of the gland 20 with the valve21, spring 43 will yield and the stem 16 will then be drawn away fromthe disk 3 and allow the flexible element to be drawn still farther outfrom the casing. It will hence be seen that I have provided severalmeans for taking up slack in the flexible element, which means allcoperate to this end. The tube 14 is recessed or slightly enlarged inits interior diameter as at 44, which when the disk 22 is in theposition shown in Fig. 1 permits a fairly free flow of fluidtherearound.

The operation of the device is as follows: When the door is opened theflexible element is drawn out of both casing 1 and casing 33, spring 9will be compressed and the washer 10 will be drawn out over the stem 16,which action will force the ring 22 outwardly to its seat upon pins 25,fiuid passing freely through the orifice around the valve, and the gland20 finally bringing up against the said valve. During the last portionof this movement the spring 37 has also been compressed until theprojections 45 carried by the washer 36 engage the inner side of the cap34. Continued movement of the door thereafter pulls the stem 16 awayfrom the disk 3 compressing the spring 43. The door has now-been openedto its fullest extent. Assuming now that the tube 27 has been adjustedproperly, when the door is released the spring 43 will urge the stem 16back against its seat and correspondingly the spring 37 will expandswinging the door quite rapidly to by taking up la portion of theflexible element. Thereafter the spring 9 will drive the sleeve 10inwardly toward the disk 3, this latter action, however, occurring butslowly by reason of the fact that the fluid is forced to traverse theslit 29 of the tube 27. However, after the sleeve 10 has nearly reachedits final position, the recessed portion of the tube 14 reaches the ring22 and passes around the same thereby permitting a much freer flow offluid back into the inner compartment, resulting in the door again morerapidly moving to effect a proper engagement of its latch. The doortherefore may be swung open as widely as desired and when released willswing to rapidly at first and thereafter more slowly, the final movementbeing accelerated when the door is almost in its closed position. Theadjustment of the tube 27 and thereby of the orifice or slit 29 iseffected most conveniently by opening the door to its fullest extent orthereabout, which draws the extremity of the said tube up closelyadjacent to the cap 4, when a screw driver may be inserted in t-heaperture 8 and engaged with the slotted end of the said tube.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a modification of my devicev in which the fluidreceptacle is formed directly in the bottom of the containing casing.The general operation of this form of my device is similar to that abovedescribed, but in this instance, t-he washer 10 to which is secured thestem 16 is directly connected to the element 32. The other extremity ofthe stem carries slidably mounted thereon the ring or partition 22,which in this instance is adapted to abut against the abutment 24 whenthe stem is being drawn outwardly. The partition 22 is also preferablyapertured in this case as at 4G, and the valve 47 which in thisinstance, as in the former, when considered in combination with thevalve ring actually constitutes a piston, is adapted to seat in adepression in the slidable partition or ring in similar fashion to thecorresponding parts in the device shown in Fig. 1. The recess in thewalls of the casing is here shown as a slot 44 or preferably a pluralityof `such slots; and fluid passes quite freely around the edge of thepartition when the latter has been forced almost to its innermostposition by the action of the spring 9. Finally the telescoping tubesare shown at 38 and 39 as being always in engagement, and the regulatingdevice for controlling the flow of fluid from the inner to the outerreceptacle, as it happens in this construction, is a fixed 'tube 27which passes through an opening in the fixed wall 48, the tubepreferably having a force fit therein. Solder may also be applied ifdesired to effect a fluid tight joint between the tube and itssupporting wall. Tube 27 extends inwardly almost up to the plug 3 andoutwardly a convenient distance, so as to be freely accessible from theaperture 8 in cap 4. The outer end of this tube is threaded preferablyinternally as at 49 for engagement with the outer threaded extremity ofa rod 50. This rod is slotted at its exposed end in similar fashion tothe end 30 of tube 27, and the inner end of the rod is adapted to covera greater or less extent of the s lot 29, as the exigencies of t-he casemay requlre.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a modified form of flexible element support whichcomprises a loose sleeve 51, disposed around the element 32 and held inproper position thereon by springs 52 and 53, the inner end of spring 52bearing against` the washer 15, and the outer end of spring 53 beingseated against a bracket 54 which may be carried by the cap 4. This formof support is not so positive in its action as the telescoping tubestructure above described, but is illustrated for the purpose of showingthat various means may be provided for laterally supporting the iiexibleelement to prevent the same from buckling or kinking.

As it is desirable at times to free the door from/ the action of theclosing devices, I have shown a means whereby this may be accomplished.The flexible element may be made in two parts, one of which is adaptedto be drawn into the jamb casing and the other into the door casing. Oneof these portions carries upon its outer end a thimble 55, which isfirmly secured to said element end and which is also o-f just suflicientdiam'eter to prevent it from being drawn through between the rollers 35.Correspondingly the other portion of element 32 carries a small socket57 which is preferably wider or thicker in one direction than in theother. This socket normally seats itself between rollers 5 and isreceived for the reception of thimble 55. The thimble may be grooved asat 58 for the reception of the end of a small set screw 59. The faces oflframes 4 and 34 are preferably recessed or grooved as at (iO-61, toafford space for the insert-ion of a small screw driver when the door isclosed and as the set screw 59 will normally be directed toward thisaperture, it may be readily withdrawn from its engagement with thimble55, permitting the separation of the respective parts of the element 32.Obviously of course the parts may be rengaged when desired. Finally itshould be observed that `my construction permits the introduction offluid into the fluid chambers when in the course of time some of lthefluid therein has been dissipated. This is readily accomplished ineither of the forms of device herein shown by withdrawing in the firstinstance the plug which is disposed in the outer extremity of the tube27, the door of course being opened to its fullest extent to pull theend 30 of' the said tube up close to the aperture S in the frame or cap4l. In the form of device illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 the same resultis attained by unscrewing and withdrawing the small plunger or rod 50from the interior of the tube 27.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

l. In a door check, a receptacle adapted to be received in the jamb of adoor, a spring in said receptacle, a checking device disposed withinsaid spring, said device comprising a liquid-holding casing, a partitioninside of said casing, said casing and partition being relativelymovable with respect to each other, a valve cooperating with saidpartition, connections between said valve and the inner end of saidreceptacle, a flexible element connected to said casing, means forattaching a part of said element to the door whereby when the door isopened the casing is drawn outwardly and the liquid therein is forcedfrom one side of the partition to the other, said spring beingcompressed by the movement of said casing and normally tending to closethe door, a tube extending through the end of said casing adjacent theflexible element, and also extending through the partition, said tubebeing adapted to convey fluid from one side of the partition to theother when the door is being closed by the spring, and means forregulating the flow of fluid through said tube.

2. In a door check, a fluid holding casing, a valve therein, anapertured partition in said casing, said casing and partition beingrelatively movable with respect to each other, said partition beingadapted to cooperate with said valve to allow fluid to pass through anaperture in the partition when movement occurs in one direction and toimpede the flow of fluid therethrough when movement occurs in theopposite direction, a flexible connection between the door and one ofthe aforesaid movable parts for effecting movement of said part in thefirst mentioned direction when the door is opened, a spring foreffecting movement in the second mentioned direction, a tube, extendingsubstantially parallel to a portion of said flexible element throughsaid casing and also through said partition, said tube being adapted toconvey fluid from one side of the partition to the other when the fluidflow is impeded as above, and means for regulating the flow of fluidthrough said tube.

3. In a door check, a fluid pressure checking appliance adapted to beattached to a door jamb and including a spring for normally closing thedoor, a flexible element adapted to be attached to the door and also toa part of said checking appliance, a friction reducing devicecooperating with said flexible element and about which said element isadapted to bend, and means comprising a tubular member for preventingbuckling of said element between said device and said appliance.

4t. In a door check, a plurality of means cooperating to normally closea door, each of said means including a spring and parts connected to andactuated by said spring, said spring actuated parts each respectivelycomprising non-extensible elements, frames mounted on said jamb and doorthrough which some of said elements are adapted to move, said framesbeing disposed side by side with a portion of one of the faces of one ofsaid frames spaced from a corresponding portion of the opposed face ofthe other casing frame to form an opening therebetween when the door isin closed position, and separable means for securing portions of saidelements together, accessible through said opening.

5. In combination a door check and closer adapted to normally close anopened door at substantially predetermined rates during various portionsof its path of movement, comprising a fluid-holding casing, a partitiontherein in contact with the fluid in said casing, free movement of Saidpartition being normally impeded by said fluid, a spring disposed aroundsaid casing, a valve which when closed impedes flow of the fluid andthereby of travel of said partition through said easing, said valveadapted to be opened when the door is being opened, and a second spring`operable to allow an additional opening movement of said door after thepartition has traversed its path of' movement in said casing, said lastmentioned means unrestrainedly tending to close said door apredetermined amount, and fluid conducting means of relatively smalleffective cross section as compared to that of the valve, said fluidconducting means coperating with said valve to control the rapidity offlow of said fluid from one side of said partition to the other, thevalve being closed and substantially all flow of the fluid taking placethrough said fluid conducting means.

6. In a door check, a fluid-pressure checking appliance adapted to beattached to a door jamb and including a spring for normally closing thedoor, a flexible element adapted to be attached to the door and also toa part of said checking appliance, a friction reducing device coperatingwith said flexible element and about which said element is adapted tobend, and means for preventing buckling of said element between saiddevice and said appliance.

7. In a door check,` a fluid-pressure checking appliance adapted to beattached to a door jamb and including a spring for normally closing thedoor, a flexible element adapted to be attached to the door and also toa part of said checking appliance, a friction reducing device coperatingwith said flexible element and about which said elementis adapted tobend, and means for preventing buckling of said element be tween saiddevice and said appliance, said means comprising a plurality oftelescoping members disposed around portions of said flexible elements.

8. In a door check, a plurality of means cooperating to normally close adoor, each of said means including a spring and part-s connected to andactuated by said spring,

for securing port-ions of said elements to- 30 gether, accessiblethrough the said lateral aperture when the door is substantially closed.

In witness whereof, I subscribe my signature, in the presence of twowitnesses.

MICHAEL J. FLYNN.

Vitnesses TALDO M. CHAPIN, VILLIAM C. LARY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 1).'0.

